Belgium Coalition Deadlock Halts Evacuation of Gaza Students

The Federal Government of Belgium has reached a deadlock over the evacuation of 13 Palestinian students and researchers from Gaza who hold scholarships to Belgian universities. Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot withdrew the evacuation proposal after it was rejected by the New Flemish Alliance, a coalition partner. The dispute has centered on demands for migration concessions, including the creation of deportation centers and the removal of irregular migrants and convicted criminals to Afghanistan.

Asylum and Migration Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt opposed the entry of the students, arguing that granting an exception would set a precedent and be unfair to students from other conflict zones such as Sudan, Yemen, or Afghanistan. She warned that the move could trigger a domino effect of asylum requests. In contrast, Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot advocated for the evacuations, stating that dignity is not for sale.

Rectors from Belgium's top universities, including Severine Vermeire of KU Leuven, condemned the administration for using the students as bargaining chips in political horse-trading. University leaders noted that the students were selected through competitive processes and intend to return to Gaza to assist in reconstruction. While other European nations including France, Italy, and the United Kingdom have admitted Gazan students through diplomatic corridors, the 13 students in this group remain trapped in Gaza, unable to access the embassies in Jerusalem or Cairo required for their visas.